Interview Translation: musiQ? vol. 13 Aoi
Translation of Aoi's interview in musiQ? vol. 13. This translation was also checked against astraphile's previously posted translation, so it should be pretty close. :)
Interviewer's questions are bold, answers are below in regular text. Any comments I had regarding the translation are in [italics]. Please also see my Translator's Notes at the bottom of the page for some other information about the interview/translation.
THEME INTERVIEW 1 - Friendship
- Do you have many friends?
I don't think I have many.
- How about in the past?
Not really. I think it's natural to have a lot of friends when you're in school, though. Anyway, that seems to be how it used to be, right? There were three middle schools in my neighborhood, but your grade didn't really seem to matter; school relationships didn't really mean a whole lot and were all kind of unskilled and awkward anyway, weren't they? Everybody knew each other since they were little kids, so they didn't bother using last names, and instead called each other by their first names.
- Are you still in contact with any of your old school friends?
I keep in touch with a few of those guys, but everyone has pretty much left Mie and are now scattered all over the place. I don't have most of their addresses anymore.
- What do you consider a "friend"?
A real friend you don't have to be careful around all the time. I'm a very cautious person, so I'm not usually like, "You hungry? Let's go get food," or something. A friend isn't someone you say, "Let's be friends" to, but someone you realize has been there all along.
- Do you consider the members [of GazettE] friends?
That's a little different. There are times that I'm cautious around them, when it's hard to say things, and at times I wonder what they're thinking, but it's not like, "Hey, hey" or anything. Also, it's a little embarrassing, but I don't feel comfortable talking to them about a lot of things.
- Well, do you have any friends who live nearby?
I don't really think there are any people I would consider true friends here in Tokyo.
- Isn't that lonely?
Yeah, it's lonely. But I really rarely leave the house. I don't even go out to eat alone. During tours, I usually just get by on stuff from convenience stores...... Whenever I do return to Mie, though, I meet up with my friends and we'll go out to some local places. I dislike crowds, and since I'm from the country, it's basically hard to adapt to Tokyo.
THEME INTERVIEW 2 - LOVE
- How are you when you're in love?
I'm cautious (laugh).
- Girls and guys think about different things, so what are you cautious about?
Everything (laugh).
- Well, are you a very affectionate person?
Well, no, that gets tiresome. The truth is, I'm not really the kind of person who wants that. That's not what I like the most.
- In that case, you don't respect a woman who is not [cautious]?
No?, I don't think so because I'm so cautious. I don't know how it would be after 10 or 20 years in a relationship like that, though.
- So you're careful about saying personal things like, "You're not feeling well?"
Ah, no, I'd say that. So much that it would probably get annoying (laugh).
- Would you like a girl who pays you a lot of attention?
Not really; I would want her to hold off on all the "Ne, ne!" stuff (laugh). To a certain extent, I'd say I'd wish to keep a kind of distance, because I don't want her to worry all the time. A person should be able to live on their own strength (laugh).
- So an independent woman is good, right?
Yeah. That would be a lot easier to handle. Someone who doesn't work would be out of the question, though (laugh).
- What if they worked part-time or something?
Only if part-time means 4 days a week (laugh). I think if you're too close to someone too often it can get tiring. Someone who possesses independence and who values personal space is a great person, in my opinion.
- So [even someone who is] pretty strong-willed?
That's perfectly OK. Though always wanting to pick fights would get annoying (laugh).
- So you want someone who works hard and works a lot?
Well, 6 days a week would probably be hard. If you don't really see each other at all, it would be lonely, wouldn't it?
- (Laugh) You're difficult [to please] aren't you?
That's the person I'm waiting for (laugh).
THEME INTERVIEW 3 - FAMILY
- Please tell us about your family structure.
It's dad, mom, my older sister, older brother, and me.
- Is there a big age difference between your sister and brother?
There is a difference. My sister is 9 years older, and my brother is 6 years older.
- Are you happy you're the youngest?
I'm not sure; but at least with an older sister and brother, dad never seemed to be mad at me (laugh). He told me, "You should go to high school," and I did go, but even after I quit after one semester he never said anything else to me about it.
- Did you grow up surrounded by love?
I guess so, yeah. During the years I was in junior high, my older sister was no longer in the house, my older brother was also living on his own, and dad had gotten a job transfer, so he was only home on weekends. It was always just me and my mom.
- Then you're a momma's boy?
Yeah, I guess so. I love both my parents, though.
- Do you think you show your parents a lot of respect?
Probably not as much as I should (laugh).
- Do you talk on the phone occasionally?
We do. And during the Tokyo live final, they came to stay at my house.
- That's not showing them respect?
No, because when they come to my house, it means there will be lots of food, so I'm like, "Yes!" (laugh).
- Will your mom look at this magazine?
She'll look at it. My parents' house is getting to be an incredible mess; when you open the front door, it's GazettE. There are posters and signs pasted up all over the place.
- Well, then, say something to your mom.
Mom, thank you for everything (laugh).
MAIN INTERVIEW
- What do you think the fans think of Aoi-kun?
Eh? I think I'm probably different than they picture me. Fans probably think I'm very serious......
- Too serious?
It seems so, yeah. They might have the image that I never leave my PC when I'm making music. No, no (laugh).
- And that's not true?
It's completely untrue (laugh). It seems like the only thing I talk about in interviews, though; so it must seem to them like I'm always composing music.
- So, in reality?
The truth is, I am in front of the PC a lot, but every hour or so I have to take a break from it (laugh). I have a short attention span. I'll work really hard for a bit, but then it's, like, time to drink coffee or something.
- I understand. Sometimes you just need a break.
When you take breaks constantly, the day goes by really fast (laugh). I always barely manage to get things done right before a deadline. It never failed that I would save summer homework until the last minute.
- So on August 30, [if the deadline is the] 31st, you kind of have to hurry up.
Yes, then I'm in a rush. I admit I often end up needing to stay up all night to get things done in one final big spurt. When I'm creating music, it's very much like I can't seem to get the engine started sometimes. I've actually tried meditation for that.
- Really?
Well...it's more like just staring blankly at the TV (laugh). I can't finish until the image I have in my mind takes shape. I hate trying to make something when it's not consistent and part of it doesn't sound quite right. I want it to come out perfect.
- That seems to go along with your serious image. How do you relax at home?
Well, I'm not in front of the PC all the time, at least not entirely (laugh). I had previously turned my living area into a workroom, but frequently found myself tempted by the allure of the bath when I looked over my shoulder. So now I keep all my equipment in the kind of dreary first room nearest the entrance.
- You're tempted by the bath?
I'm crazy about baths. Don't you find them refreshing? They're good, however relaxing and unwinding by drinking a beer just after getting out is great, too. Then, of course, you really have no choice but to go to sleep. Really, a lot of songs are generally started during my time in the bath.
- Well then, that must be a great room, right?
Yeah, but that's what makes double-edge swords so hazardous, isn't it? Even so, a bath is probably best at putting me in high spirits.
- High spirits......
In my head. I'm not dancing around in the bathroom or anything. I just replay really hot lives in my mind, starting of course with the original songs.
- I see. So Aoi-kun seems to project that same unique musical atmosphere as rock musicians of the past, huh?
Wait, I'm half-hearted? (laugh)
- No, no, that's not what I mean. Like, didn't your brother teach you to play the guitar?
Yeah, yeah. My older brother was kind of rebellious in senior high, and played guitar in a band. It looked like fun, so I wanted to join in, but he'd always kick me out (laugh). In exchange [for not letting me join in], he gave me a book of guitar chords and song lyrics and said, "I'll lend these to you, so go play downstairs," (laugh). I practiced with that through most of middle school.
- What songs did you practice?
I practiced playing X [Japan] chords. However, that was more classic guitar, not really rock (laugh). When he graduated high school, he let me have his old guitar when I begged for it, so I ended up with my first electric guitar, even though it was broken.
- The sound wouldn't come out even if it was hooked up to the amp?
I convinced dad to take me out to buy a small amp. I'd saved up for it from [money I got for] New Year's gifts. When I got it home and the sound still wouldn't work, I cried.
- How disappointing.
At the end of grade school, I got a job as a newspaper carrier, and before the third year of middle school I was able to buy myself an electric guitar. It was so incredible! I was so excited I almost wanted to sleep with it in my arms. I was incredibly busy; in the morning, I had my newspaper job, during the day I went to school, and then I had baseball club, and in the evening, guitar until it was time for bed. I had no spare time for homework.
- I don't think you had any motivation for that from the start, huh.
Nope. Children are very busy (laugh). But even after I dropped out of high school, I still didn't feel a push towards the guitar. I wanted to go pro, but my brother said rather harshly to be realistic; with that, it was almost like I felt my dream break apart a bit. Actually, my older brother really loves music, but didn't think it was something one could do for regular work.
- So you went a different route.
I wasn't doing much for awhile, until [I found out] the brother of my then-girlfriend was a surfer.
- (Laugh) Another brother, huh?
Yeah. It seems I can't do things without other people's help (laugh). When I tried [surfing], I was like, "This is fun!" I thought, "I have a talent for this," when I was able to stand up right away on the board without any difficulty.
- Right, you should be a pro surfer!
That was my aim, actually. Pro sounds good, and I thought it was cool. Like a baseball player.
- So you've always wanted a career where you could be in the spotlight?
I guess so (laugh). Because of that, though, I was actually in a surfing tournament. So the first time I appeared in a magazine, it was actually a surfing magazine (laugh).
- How long did you do that?
2 or 3 years, I guess. I had a lot of physical endurance at the time, so in the morning I'd go to the ocean, take a nap in the afternoon, go back to the ocean in the evening, and work at night.
- You were busy as ever.
I was busy. That was just life, then one day, I saw this indies program on TV in the middle of the night. This band appeared, and I kind of wrongly though, "I can do better than that," then immediately said, "I'm going to Tokyo," (laugh).
- But you didn't have a band, right?
No, I didn't. But if I went to Tokyo, I figured I'd probably manage somehow or another. I told my parents about it that day. However, it was impossible for me to quit my job immediately, so I kept working for about a month until I was like, "See ya." For that month, I practiced guitar non-stop.
- That seems rather reckless.
It was reckless. I don't know, I guess I'm just dumb (laugh). Or I'm misunderstood, right?
- Yeah, but that [kind of sudden decision] is a serious matter.
But now things have turned out good; if they hadn't then I would just have been an idiot (laugh). I arrived in Tokyo, but had no money and no place to stay; I thought maybe I could be a live-in newspaper carrier, and then an acquaintance suggested, "My married older sister lives in Tokyo, would you like me to ask them if you can stay with them for a little while?" I was like, "You don't even have to ask me!" (laugh). So, I got a referral for a job, and while working, helped form a band which was at the time with [Yune] the former drummer of the GazettE.
- Such is the atmosphere surrounding the lifestyle of a rock musician, huh?
Yeah, but when I think about it now, the parents who let their son just up and go to Tokyo rock the most (laugh). My parents gave me enough for a return ticket home, I think maybe because they thought I would come back right away. Then that turned into 7 or 8 years (laugh).
- What does your brother who taught you guitar have to say now about the success of the band and Aoi-kun?
He doesn't really say. But his wife showed me a movie she secretly made of him copying the GazettE's music (laugh).
- (Laugh) A role reversal.
My brother's not bad, either. I think he might be just a little better than me, even (laugh).
- Hahaha. So, how does Aoi-kun think the other members feel [about you]?
Hmm, sometimes I wonder. I don't really want to ask, because part of me almost doesn't want to know their feelings about me. What if they think badly of me?
- (Laugh) But since you're so careful, don't you speculate about that kind of thing?
I often think about it (laugh). I'm not sure why, but Uruha is very distant/formal with me lately. I'm older than him, but we share common interests like guitar, so I don't understand why he's like that. Obviously, we talk to each other while we work. But we don't usually speak [other than that]. That makes me a little anxious (laugh).
- There is a strange feeling of distance, then.
Yeah, could there be a connection with our group photos? (Laugh) But that's kind of what I'm getting at. Before, during the tour, we stayed together in a hotel room and would ask each other stuff like, "How does this sound?", and we talked often then. But now that we're staying in separate rooms, we don't talk like we did before. I'm lonely (laugh).
- You can't just talk to him?
There's nothing to talk about (laugh). I see him looking like he's having fun talking with everyone else, and I'm like, "That's not fair" (laugh). This past week, even though it was awkward, I called him and was like, "Uruha, how do I work the digital cable?" and he was like, "Just ask the electrician." (Laugh)
- You seem embarrassed.
Hey, I'm not gay or anything (laugh).
- (Laugh) I didn't ask such a thing.
Well, anyway, the person in the GazettE who is on my mind the most lately is probably Uruha.
- But, hearing this conversation gives me the impression that Aoi-kun is shy. Like you don't want to be taken too seriously.
Shy sounds about right (laugh). I think all the members get embarrassed easily, though. When we're working, we'll share opinions, get angry, and say whatever we want, but otherwise we can barely say, "Let's go get some dinner." Wouldn't it be a shock if they refused? (laugh). That's a good suggestion, isn't it? We invited the manager, but then he declined and everyone got mad again (laugh). Like, "You have no right to refuse!" (laugh). But I really did want to go out to dinner and talk with everyone. I guess I'm just too shy after all?
- Then you ended up alone?
Right. Truthfully, I don't really think I like being alone so much. I guess it's inevitable, though (laugh). I'm lonely?! In that case, when this book is released, I'll go buy it from the bookstore and secretly send copies to all the members' homes (laugh).
- (Laugh) Got it. In conclusion, what work is the GazettE in the middle of right now?
We're devoting ourselves to our work. Between the completion of our single "Guren" and the last session of the tour, we are now in the position of being able to concentrate our efforts on the creation of powerful music; it is coming along nicely. Just not the melody standpoint yet.
- Will the songs reflect the power you received during the tour?
The band is pretty much in super-attack mode at the moment. We're sort of, like, sharp. We might even knock you off your feet if you're not careful! It's not good to underestimate us. We're heated up right now. But if it turns out to be a total ballad or something, I'm sorry (laugh).
- Hahahaha.
But things are incredibly exciting right now. Being able to work on something freely lets you devote all your power to it. To that extent, I think perhaps everyone has become more stoic and is meeting the charge by becoming more intense in the studio. Anyway, I plan on proceeding with more intensity.
- Even though you're normally so cautious?
You can't really be cautious when you're creating. Because I think, when it comes to music, that it's all over if you start compromising.
- Does Aoi-kun seek feedback on the songs and phrases you come up with?
When I'm working on something that is still basic, I ask for opinions, however once I advance it one more step to a more complete state, I present it more like, "This is the way this song is." I get particularly nervous with Uruha, though. So if he's like, "It's good," I do a little mental guts-pose* (laugh). [*Guts-pose - triumphant pose assumed by athletes; like a victorious flexing of your muscles]
- So August 23 is the decisive date for the live at the Fujikyuu Highland Conifer Forest.
Yes it is. It's the first open-air live we've had in two years, so it almost gives it the feeling of a festival. At the last one at Tokyo Big Sight, we had fireworks and lots of food stands open. This time it's at Fujikyuu, so we're looking forward to the change of scenery; you guys are looking forward to it too, right? Like that.
- Well then, you should hurry and finish your homework.
I guess so. If I don't get it done before the 30th, maybe I won't be able to because of the aftermath of the live (laugh).
Translator's Notes:
Aoi uses the masculine pronoun "ore" to refer to himself throughout the interview, except when asked to describe his family structure, when he switches temporarily to the less gruff-sounding "watakushi".
He is generally rather polite and somewhat formal when speaking about his sister and brother, typically referring to them as "aneki" (elder sister) and "aniki" (elder brother).
He calls his mother "okaa-chan" (which I find adorable); since "-chan" is a term of endearment, it can be assumed that he has a close relationship with his mother and/or dotes on her.
He refers to his father using the standard polite "tou-san" a few times, but mostly uses "oyaji" when speaking about him, which can be roughly translated to "my old man" (or "pops").
I think he slips in and out of dialect throughout the interview, since quite a few times I encountered verbs that were conjugated a little differently than I'm used to, as well as some colloquial/slang terms.
Also, I don't know if it was by choice of the interviewer or the person who typeset the interview (if it was someone else), but there was somewhat unusual use of katakana in place of regular kanji for some words and/or parts of words. This gives it the sense of being more informal and slang-y/dialectic to me, but I don't know if there is any other significance besides that and the visual appeal of the characters chosen.